Google Drive is a cloud storage service. Google Drive (Google Drive) - cloud file storage

Hello everyone! Google Drive is free cloud storage plus an office suite. What are the benefits of accessing these features and how to use Google Drive?

Among the many similar products, Google Drive cloud storage stands out with a significant advantage, namely, tight integration with Google services.

What does this mean? Operating system Android is owned by Google and more than 80% of all mobile devices run on this platform. The Google Chrome browser today has reached the undisputed leadership among the best Internet browsers. Google Corporation is the de facto global Internet search monopolist, with colossal resources for advancing development - Google's innovative developments appear earlier than those of competing organizations.

To make it easier and more convenient to deal with Google Drive how to use , it is advisable to start from the very beginning and go through all the main steps.

Getting started with Google Drive

If you do not have Google Chrome browser installed on your computer yet, then you need to make up for the omission, since it is with the help of this browser that it is most convenient to master Google Drive cloud storage and get the most direct access to all the endless possibilities of Google services.

In the next step, you will be prompted to download and install Google Drive on your computer.

A little warning is needed here. If you do not have a particularly powerful computer, it is better to use Google Drive using the web interface in the browser, since the Google Drive application consumes quite a lot of hardware resource and the system will slow down during the synchronization process.

Since Google Drive cloud storage allows you to use all the files stored on the server from any device, do not forget to install Google Drive on all your smartphones, tablets, laptops and all-in-ones at the same time.

Don't worry, Google Drive apps are designed for all platforms, both mobile and desktop.

Features of using Google Drive

• Work on text documents, spreadsheets and presentations, slide shows from any computer.
• Collaborate on documents remotely. To do this, you need to find Access in the Settings and specify who and to what extent is allowed to read, edit or comment on documents.
• You can publish any file on the Internet for free access to all users. This can be useful, for example, when you don't want to spend internet traffic on sending large video files to other users. Google Disk allows you to simply send a link to download a file by mail - and let the recipient pay for the Internet.

It should be mentioned that after the upgrade, the two services Google Drive and Google Docs have been merged and now it does not matter which application you run - the possibilities will be the same. From any application, you can instantly switch to any other.

Features of Google Drive Sync

After connecting and installing Google Drive on a desktop computer, some changes will occur in the system.

• A Drive folder will appear in Windows Explorer. Any files you put there will be automatically synced to your cloud storage. Using the context menu, you can send any file from other folders on your hard drive to the cloud.
• New shortcuts to office applications included in the Google Docs package and an Application Launcher shortcut will appear on the Desktop. With the help of these shortcuts, you can launch directly from the Desktop text editor or other programs and start working immediately.

A Google Drive icon will appear in the system tray, clicking on it will give you access to the Settings Menu. In particular, from there you can adjust the synchronization order. Specify which files to sync and which do not. Set the number of simultaneously downloaded files and upload speed.

In general, there is absolutely no need to worry about how to synchronize Google Drive with a computer. , because all these processes are automated and come by default. As an option - with a slow computer, so as not to wait long time synchronization of files from the Disk folder, you can upload documents and videos, photos through the browser.

If you are going to use Google Drive as a network drive on your smartphone or tablet, you need to install mobile app and sign in with your Google account. If you want to work with texts, then you need to download and install the Google Docs mobile application. The difference with desktops here is that each application for working with texts, tables, presentations on tablets needs to be installed separately. This is done to save local memory, which is limited on mobile devices.

You can connect Google Drive in the mobile File Manager and to upload to the cloud, you just need to copy the selected files to the Google Drive folder.

Another question is how to access Google Drive from someone else's computer? To do this, in the browser, type the address drive.google.com and log in with your Gmail address and password. On a mobile device, you won't be able to access Disk online - every time you will be redirected to the application download page. You will have to install mobile Google Drive or one of the office applications.

That's all for me. See you soon!

Sincerely, Evgeny Kuzmenko.

Cloud storage services have been around for several years. And during this time, users have fully experienced all the benefits of storing information in these services. Essentially, cloud storage gives people the ability to store files not on their computer's hard drive, but on external servers. Thus, two problems are solved at once. First, you can save a decent amount disk space. Secondly, you can insure yourself against data loss (if the entire computer breaks down or if the hard drive fails).

One of the most popular and used cloud storage is Google Drive (or "Google Drive", as they like to call it in Runet). From the name it becomes clear that this service is provided by Google. The high popularity of this service among users is due to the easy registration procedure, high reliability of data storage, large amount of available space and other factors.

Installation and registration

Let's start with installation and registration. In order to register in the service, the user only needs to create an email gmail box and download the client for PC. After installing the client, enter the name of the mailbox and the password for it. If the data is correct, then you can immediately start working with files. After starting the client, it will create a new tray icon, when clicked, the context menu for working with "Disk" will appear. New files can be added in several ways. The easiest is to move files to a special temporary folder and then upload them to the repository. You can also use the web interface. To do this, among all Google services (“Mail”, “Search”, etc.), select “Disk”. On the disk itself, you can create several folders for storage different types files, as well as download the necessary files (red button with an arrow at the top of the screen). The download speed depends only on the speed of your internet connection. So if the files are loaded slowly, then blame your provider.

Some time ago, only 5 gigabytes of disk space was available to users for data storage. However, then Google decided that people themselves have the right to distribute the space allotted to them under gmail, photos, and Drive. Now the total amount of space available for one user is 15 GB.

Working on uploaded files

With the files uploaded to the "Disk" you can perform various manipulations. For example, you can view them directly from the browser (however, a lot depends on the format and type of the file), open them with the right programs, download them to your computer's hard drive, move them, rename them, etc.

Advantages

One of the main advantages of Google Drive over other similar services is the availability of a convenient mobile office. If you have access to the Internet and the Google Chrome browser, then you can easily work with a large number of different types of documents (text, graphics, presentations, tables, etc.). You don't need to install Office from Microsoft and store all the files on your PC's hard drive. In addition to simple viewing and editing of documents, the option of sharing access to them is available. For example, you wrote an article or compiled a table. Using the link provided, your friend can not only view it, but also edit it (which is very convenient). Using the corresponding menu item, you can insert the created documents on a website or blog.

How Google immediately launched its service for cloud storage of files and named it the same way.

Click on the “Login” button.

Click "Notify me" and we see this picture:

Well, that's all, it remains only to wait for an invitation, however, in the same way as in Yandex.Disk.

Now let's take a closer look at what Google Dis will offer us. I will list the points that deserve attention.

1. Google Dis promises to provide 5 GB of file storage. As far as I'm concerned, it's not bad. In addition, you can increase this beat for a small fee: 25 GB - $ 2.49, 100 GB - $ 4.99 and 1 TB - $ 49.99. Yes, friends, I look and think that most likely we will throw away hard drives from computers 🙂 even the OS will be launched from the cloud.
2. Well, of course, access to your disk from any device and place where there is Internet. This is really very useful, both for entertainment and for work. For example, you can work on a project with a large team and store all files in Google Drive. Also, the application for working with Google Drive is available for all popular platforms, including mobile ones. And as always, I will use the web version, that's how I am, I don't like any programs there :).
3. Google Drive promises a simple and very efficient search among files. Something, but Google knows how to search.
4. Good integration with other Google services, such as Google Docs, which will allow you to edit documents directly in the browser.
5. And one more interesting feature, PDF files and images with text uploaded to Google Drive can be converted into “Google Docs”. This is similar to the FineReader program.

Well, it seems to me that Google is creating another great service that must definitely win its audience of users and simplify our complicated life a little more. Good luck.

Hello friends! I haven't written about clouds for a long time. Don't find? And here just on one blog interesting topic raised in the comments.

Here there is, Dropbox and YandexDisk, and there is also GoogleDisk (according to the correct GoogleDrive, but I'm too lazy to switch, so the path will be like this) and SkyDrive. Yes, there are some more famous clouds, but that's not the point. And speech, actually, in what cardinal difference of these services. Never thought? And in vain, because there are differences.

So, with such a topic, I will continue my series “What clouds are there?” Let's talk about Google Drive today. What he? Who is he? And what is it for?

Formally speaking, GoogleDisk is a cloud storage service. But with some differences, from the same or Yadisk.

For example, when registering this service, the user acquires only 5GB and not a byte more. Any other volume only for money. No likes and referral friends will help.

Wait, wait, it's not so sad. GoogleDisk has a lot of other possibilities, or rather, it is “sharpened” for a different use, in my opinion. But let's get it right...

Installation

In my opinion, the cloud from Gosha is the most stress-free service in terms of registration and configuration.

All you need to register is mailbox from gmail. As soon as you register your mail, Uncle Gosha will automatically give you 5 GB of cloud storage.

It remains only to install the client for the computer and you can use it. That's the whole setup. Pretty simple and uncomplicated.

Usage

There is nothing complicated in using GoogleDisk and I did not see any differences in terms of data storage from other clouds.

Publication

First you need to open Google Drive in a browser, then select the desired file, right-click on it and select Share.

A window with publishing options will open.

Synchronization

You can also set up synchronization for specific folders or files. To do this, again, open Google Drive in your browser and click the Upload button.

As a result, the downloaded data will be synchronized automatically with any change in folders or files.

Somewhat strange synchronization is obtained, but oh well. Maybe I don’t know something, then I ask you to speak in the comments.

Differences

In my opinion, the main cardinal difference between Google Drive and similar services is a mobile office. Yes, yes, you heard right, it is a mobile office, accessible from anywhere in the world, using the Internet and the Chrome browser,.

No doubt it can be used as an ordinary cloud, but still imprisoned Google Drive is not for storing data, namely for working with them .

Google used to have this Google Docs service, you know, Google Drive is the successor to Google Docs. Google decided to combine mobile office and cloud storage. And I have to say, they weren't bad.

Pretty serious functionality turned out. Moreover, you can work with data of various kinds. From text documents, spreadsheets and presentations, to image editors and programs for creating scripts and drawings.

Pay attention to the interesting line “Connect other applications”. When you click on this link, valiant Chrome will give you a large list of applications with which you can greatly increase the functionality of Google Drive.

Creating new documents

New files are created by clicking the "Create" button. Click on it and you will see a list of possible documents.

For example, I have additionally installed applications for designing, organizing files, and writing scripts. What will you have, choose for yourself.

Each new document opens in a new window and is automatically saved to Google Drive.

The great thing about Google Drive is forms. You will not find analogues of this function in any mobile office and office software package. With their help, you can create various questionnaires and questionnaires.

You can see an example of such a form. I even saw Shakin's questionnaire made using Google Drive forms.

O! The most important thing, for our fellow bloggers, I forgot. Any document created in Google Docs can be added to a blog.

Inserting Documents into a Blog (Website)

Sharing

There is another interesting opportunity, not everyone needs it, but interesting.

Google Drive has such a thing as working on the same document in real time at the same time.

That is, for example, there is some document. Let's say the text of an article I wrote. This document is stored in my Google Drive. I want someone to read and appreciate my opus. You can, of course, send it to the mail and wait for the results. But this is not our method. We are not looking for easy ways, so we open the document in Google Docs and go to the File menu. We are looking for the item Send to collaborators.

Thus, we can change the same document in real time at the same time.

Conclusion

Of course, Google Drive is not a complete replacement for the same Microsoft Office or similar packages. I tried to work with serious tables, so it turned out there was a limit of 400 lines, and the functionality was very limited compared to Excel.

But all these limitations are more than covered by mobility and cloud cover. Moreover, all created files are automatically saved to Google Drive. Including all documents created in additional applications.

Well, let's summarize.

Pros of Google Drive

• Elementary installation
• Mobile office
• Tons of different applications
• Create Forms
• Work in real time with the same document
• Inserting created documents into a blog (website)

Cons of Google Drive

With all the above goodies, there are also disadvantages.

• Not enough free space (you must admit, 5GB is still not much, although for office documents ...)
• Strange timing system
• Limited functionality of office applications
• Serious load on the blog when inserting documents from Google

Something like that.

Please, allow me to take a break. Good luck to all!

P.S. All of the above is my vision of this service or, as they say, IMHO.

Do you have anything to add? Then, I'm waiting in the comments!

By the way, do you know the Russian transcription of the abbreviation IMHO? Here's what Wikipedia says:

IMHO or IMHO(from English. IMHO, In My Humble Opinion), also IMHO or imho(in lower case) is the Russian transliteration of the English acronym meaning "in my humble opinion".

And here on another specialized forum I came across this decoding:

IMHO - “I have an opinion, you can argue with hell”

» Google Drive Overview

Google Drive (Google Drive) is a free virtual data storage with online access. In fact, this is a file hosting with excellent reliability, user-friendly interface and huge capacity. This repository is also called cloud .

Download link:
(15 GB free).
Just in case:
(10 GB free).
Login link: .
Account registration link: registration .

How much space is given?

At the moment you are allocated b> 15 GB. That's a lot!
Please note that Email(the letters themselves and attachments) also takes up space. We recommend not to accumulate unnecessary letters and empty the trash.

How it works?

1. You upload a file from your device (computer or smartphone) to the cloud.

You can download directly through the browser or through a special program, as well as download information with one click.

2. The data is stored in cloud .

3. Knowing the login and password from your Google Drive, you can log into it at any time to get access to everything that you uploaded there. Essentially, this is your personal virtual flash drive , which you can use from your own or from any other computer where there is Internet.

What can be saved?

1. Photo (JPG, PNG, JPEG)
2. Video (MPEG-4, AVI, FLV, MOV, WMV)
3. Documents and spreadsheets (DOC, XLS, PDF, TXT)

Why is this service useful?

• Saving important data.

The computer can break down, the hard drive can burn out, the phone can be lost or drowned - in all cases, all the information accumulated over the years "flies". With Google Drive, your data will not disappear anywhere.

• Access to files from any device.

2. Access to all accumulated information is opened.

3. Files can be viewed, edited and downloaded.

• There is public access.

If at work you need several people to be admitted to your account at once, this can be arranged. Moreover, users can be given different rights (to view, to edit, to add new data).

Additional features

• Editing and creating new documents.

You can design new tables, edit them, and create presentations.

• Google forms.

Using them, you can create contact forms for sites, conduct polls and votes.

• Google pictures and apps.

These services allow you to make drawings, diagrams, diagrams, as well as use elements of graphic processing. Additionally, you can use converters, audio and video editors, photo effects, radio modules and much more.

• Offline access to content.

If you want to continue working even without the Internet, in this case you need to set up offline mode. How to do it?

Instructions for a computer or laptop.

1. Turn on the Google Chrome browser.

3. Disable incognito mode (if it was enabled).

4. Install the extension for Chrome (you can do this on this page).

5. Open the section: https://drive.google.com/drive/settings . Check the box to agree to save information to your computer.

6. For optimal performance and file protection you need to download Google Drive for PC. Then it remains only to use the program. It will work without the Internet, but the system should have enough free memory. This is just for convenience and speed. You can also use the web version. In any case, all information is uploaded to the server - the cloud.

Instructions for iPhone/iPad and Android devices.

1. Download and install the Google Drive app from AppStore or Android Market.

2. Open it and set up offline access mode.

3. To view the files, just launch the application.

Be sure to try this service! It will be useful to everyone who appreciates safety, convenience and new technologies.